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Reyna returns from layoff for Man. City's 2-1 decision over Sunderland.

The oft-injured Claudio Reyna missed nine English Premier League games and three FA Cup matches after breaking a small bone in the back of his left ankle in a loss to Wigan December 26. -- Manchester City web site photo --

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Sunday, March 5, 2006) -- United States midfielder and captain Claudio Reyna went 81 minutes in his first English Premier League match since December, helping Manchester City down last-place Sunderland 2-1 before 42,200 at City of Manchester Stadium this afternoon.

City received a quick pair of goals from newly arrived 21-year-old Greece international Georgios Samaras in the ninth and 10th minutes for a 2-0 lead.

Forward Kevin Kyle pulled Sunderland to within 2-1 with a tally in the 25th minute, but it was not enough to prevent the Black Cats from sinking to 2-22-4 with 10 points, eight points below 19th place and 16 points from escaping relegation. With 10 games remaining, Sunderland, Reyna's employer before Man. City, seems certain to be heading down the English League Championship.

Sunderland finished with 10 men following defender and captain Gary Breen being sent off with a second yellow card in the 85th minute.

Reyna played in place of his usual midfield partner Joey Barton, out with a suspension. So, beside taking some free kicks and corner kicks, he mainly had a defensive role as City looked to protect its early advantage.

"It was nice to get some minutes under my belt with the reserves," Reyna told Associated Press of his 59-minute performance with the Blues' second team in a 2-0 decision over Bolton Wanderers reserves Monday. "It felt good and everything went well. Now I just need to keep working on my fitness -- but it was nice to be back."

Reyna clearly tired late and was replaced by Stephen Ireland. The victory kept the Blues hopes of playing next season in European competition alive. The Blues are 12-12-4 with 40 points, tied for ninth place with Wigan (12-11-4), which owns game in hand. City is four points behind fifth place which would bring a spot in the second-tier UEFA Cup, and five points behind sixth place, which qualifies for the third-level InterToto Cup.

Reyna had been playing on an extremely sore ankle when he took himself out of City's 4-3 loss at Wigan December 26. A CT scan revealed Reyna had a fracture of a small bone in the back of his right ankle and he had surgery to repair it December 30.

Reyna was originally expected to be sidelined six-to-eight weeks and was out almost nine weeks, missing nine league games and three FA Cup matches. City has an FA Cup fifth-round replay at home March 14 against EPL foe Aston Villa, the winner advancing to the quarterfinals.

U.S. goalkeeper Brad Friedel and Blackburn Rovers had a second-half comeback fall short this afternoon, dropping an exciting 3-2 road decision to Tottenham Hotspur before 36,080 at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane scored a pair of controversial goals for a 2-0 lead after 42 minutes. In the ninth minute, Rovers thought they had a throw-in in their own end and were moving upfield. Instead, the ball was given to Spurs forward Ahmed Mido, who fed Keane. Keane got by the only remaining Rovers defender with a good move in the box and beat Friedel, who was helpless to stop it.

The second goal was even more controversial. In the 42nd minute, Friedel made an amazing save on Mido's free kick taken just inches above the penalty area. The ball rebounded into Keane's path and the Ireland international seemed to have the ball bounce off his arm into the goal.

Rovers protested in vain.

Blackburn erased their deficit. Florent Sinama Pongolle scored in the 44th minute and Craig Bellamy in the 67th, but Spurs' winner came three minutes later when Mido was sent in alone on Friedel and scored.

In stoppage time, Rovers defender Michael Gray hit the post off a corner kick. Spurs immediately counterattacked and Friedel was forced to make the best save of the match when he dove full-length to deny Mido.

After the weekend's action, Arsenal (13-10-5, 44 points) slipped into fifth place past Blackburn (13-11-4, 43), which fell to sixth. Fifth place brings a spot in next season's UEFA Cup, while sixth place earns a spot in the Intertoto Cup. Four teams are within three points of Blackburn

G'ladbach benefited from goals by defender Marcell Jansen in the 35th minute and striker Wesley Sonck in the 65th, then used solid defense to make the lead stand up.

G'ladbach (8-7-9, 33) moved into a tie for fifth place, even on points, but having played one game more than VfB Stuttgart (7-4-12). Fifth place brings an invitation to the next UEFA Cup competition.

Given how poorly the ADO defense played, it can't be long until Gibbs, who has been playing with the reserve team, is inserted into the first team.

ADO (7-17-3, 24) had revived hope of avoiding relegation after two successive league victories, but still sits in the relegation zone in 16th place, three points from safety.

Robert Wagman is SoccerTimes senior correspondent. E-mail Robert Wagman.

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